Rays vs Blue Jays Odds, Betting Lines, and Probable Pitchers (Sep. 13)
- The Toronto Blue Jays are -130 home favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, September 13
- Tampa Bay has won seven of the last 10 games from Toronto
- But the Rays are just 1-4 in their last five games at Rogers Centre
The hottest team in the American League meets the reigning AL champions in what figures to be an epic three-game set.
The Toronto Blue Jays are 14-2 over their past 16 games. That hot stretch has secured the team an AL Wild Card position. However, in the AL East, the Jays still trail the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays by nine games.
At they open a series Monday in Toronto, it’s the hometown Blue Jays who are set as the -130 favorites. Toronto is 9-1 over the past 10 games.
Rays vs Blue Jays Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Rays | +110 | +1.5 (-170) | O 9.5 (-105) |
| Toronto Blue Jays | -130 | -1.5 (+150) | U 9.5 (-115) |
Odds as of September 13th at DraftKings.
First pitch at the Rogers Centre is set for 7:07pm ET. Clouds are in the forecast, along with 4 mph wind, and a temperature of 73 degrees.
McHugh vs Manoah
| 6-1 | Record | 5-2 |
| 1.46 | ERA | 3.71 |
| 2.36 | xERA | 3.64 |
| 0.92 | WHIP | 1.11 |
| 5.75 | SO/W Ratio | 2.97 |
It’s been an absolutely dominant year for Rays right-hander Collin McHugh. He’s in the top 1% of AL pitchers in xERA (2.36), strikeout percentage (32.4), bases on balls percentage (5.6), hard hit percentage (29.2), xwoBACON (.319), xwoBA (.236), woBA (.234), xSLG (.282), xBA (.198), barrel percentage (3.1), exit velocity (86.6) and max EV (110).
Working mainly out of the bullpen, McHugh, a 19-game winner for the Houston Astros in 2015, will be making his sixth start of the season as an opener. He’s never gone more than two innings in this scenario. This will be his first starting assignment since August 16. He’s yet to allow a run as a starter over 8.2 innings of work.
Collin McHugh will be opener for #Rays on Monday at #BlueJays; Yarbrough expected to work bulk of the innings
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) September 12, 2021
McHugh has made four appearances against Toronto this season, all as a reliever. He’s picked up two holds in those four stints. McHugh has posted a 1.23 ERA over 7.1 innings. He’s checked Jays hitters on a .192 batting average. Over his career, McHugh is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 11 appearances against Toronto, including five starts.
Manoah’s rookie campaign for Toronto is also proving to be stellar. The right-hander rates among the top 6% in the AL in hard-hit percentage (30.5). He’s also among the bottom 2% in max EV (117.9), though.
Alek Manoah's 88 strikeouts are the most through a pitchers first 15 career MLB games in #WeAreBlueJays history.
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) September 8, 2021
As well, he’s winless since August 11. Manoah is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through his last five stats. He’s allowed nine earned runs over his past 10.2 innings of work.
Manoah has faced the Rays twice this season. He’s 1-1 with a 1.76 ERA. On July 2 he pitched seven innings of three-hit, shutout ball in an 11-1 victory. Seven days later, Manoah was touched for three runs, two earned, over 3.2 innings of a 7-1 loss. In 10.2 innings Manoah has struck out 19 Rays batters.
Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers
| Rays Batters | Batting Average vs Manoah | Blue Jays Batters | Batting Average vs McHugh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Azorena | .000 | Bo Bichette | .667 |
| J-Man Choi | .000 | Corey Dickerson | .000 |
| Nelson Cruz | .000 | Jarrod Dyson | 1.000 |
| Yandy Diaz | .000 | Randal Grichuk | .500 |
| Kevin Kiermaier | .000 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr | .000 |
| Brandon Lowe | .000 | Lourdes Gurriel Jr | .333 |
| Jordan Luplow | .000 | Teoscar Hernandez | .000 |
| Manuel Margot | .000 | Danny Jansen | .000 |
| Austin Meadows | .250 | Alejandro Kirk | .000 |
| Francisco Mejia | .500 | Jake Lamb | .308 |
| Brett Phillips | .500 | Reese McGuire | .000 |
| Taylor Walls | .500 | Marcus Semien | .306 |
| Joey Wendle | .200 | George Springer | .000 |
| Mike Zunino | .000 | Breyvic Valera | .000 |
Several Blue Jays have enjoyed success at the plate when facing McHugh. Second baseman Marcus Semien is 11-for-36 (.306) with a homer and three RBI. Third baseman Jake Lamb has homered and driven in two runs while going 4-for-13 (.308).
Marcus Semien keeps hitting homers.
That's No. 36. 💪 pic.twitter.com/hLpamHeIMZ
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2021
Shortstop Bo Bichette is 2-for-3 (.667). Center fielder Jarrod Dyson is 1-for-1 (1.000), center fielder Randal Grichuk is 1-for-2 (.500), and left fielder Lourdes Gurriel is 1-for-3 (.333).
For Tampa Bay, shortstop Taylor Walls, outfielder Brett Phillips and catcher Francisco Mejia are all 1-for-2 (.500) when facing Manoah.
Rays vs Blue Jays Pick
On the eve of this series, the Rays made several roster moves. Right-handed pitcher Nick Anderson and outfielder Phillips were activated from the IL. RHP Chris Archer (hip) was placed on the 10-day IL. RHP Shawn Armstrong was designated for assignment.
Over a three-game winning streak the Blue Jays are averaging 14.7 runs per game. They’ve also won four in a row at home. However, they’ve surrendered at least seven runs in three of their past seven home games.
Tampa Bay has won eight of 13 from Toronto.
Pick: Tampa Bay Rays (+110)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
